1940's Super Speeds Can Take 1/2 Blades

[stuff495]

Hello,

I just wanted to share that I've had success using a 1940's Gillette Super Speeds to hold a DE blade half. It shaved just fine.

Why would you do this? Well, the theory is that by only exposing one edge at a time to soap and water and skin oils, you get more life out of the whole DE blade. There's some evidence to back this up, but I haven't taken the yet time to see out what my average # of shaves per blade is.

Good luck!

--Vincent

[Milton]

Well i guess if you're really concerned about stretching the use out of every blade. Personally, I just use Red IPs and toss them after 3-4 shaves.

Have you noticed a difference in curvature of the 1/2 blade in the razor as a opposed to a full blade?

[michiganlover]

ICK....NO...JUST NO!!

With just the half blade, you are relying just on the tightness of the silo doors to hold the blade in place. Not a good idea. The blade can move during the shave causing serious injury to your face.

Silo doors have been known to come loose, with quite horrendous results.

While it might work for you (until you suffer an accident), I could never in good conscious recommend such a practice to anyone else.

Fellow Newbies: DON'T TRY THIS!!

P.S. Gillette designed the razor to work with a full blade; Gillette knew what they are were doing, please don't use a razor in a way it wasn't intended.

[T Rick]

Seems like they call it a double edge for a reason...

As a practical matter, to get half a blade, you're either snapping it in two (??) or cutting it. Ostensibly to extand the life? Me, I'm getting around 6 days out of a blade. At a cost of 12¢ - 15¢ /blade. that's less than 3¢/day. Maybe as little as 2¢. Even if I were to double the blade life (which I doubt), dealing with a half blade in a DE wouldn't be worth saving a penny a day (besdes, many of my DE's are not TTO).

If you really want to shave single edge, try a Gem . Great shave.

YMMV

[Ru4scuba?]

Vincent,

They're speaking the truth above bro. Be very careful with your technique and watch your silo doors!

That said, if this is a method you enjoy and you feel you can mitigate the risk...have at it. Just realize that a brand new Noob without as much experience as you or I could get into trouble!

Happy shaving!

[Hoos]

The linked article mentions nothing about this type of "cost savings" and only discusses cartridge razors. And the findings for the cartridge razors was one study, undertaken by an individual that hasn't been verified.

The fact that the post doesn't contain any instructions on safely shaving with 1/2 of a blade is also worrisome.

Trying to shave with half of a DE blade is potentially more dangerous, a waste of time, and pointless.

You want to use only one edge at a time because it puts an extra nickel in your pocket every month? Seems like there's a good likelihood that that nickel would end up going for bandaids and Bactine for cut fingers/faces.

[stuff495]

Have you noticed a difference in curvature of the 1/2 blade in the razor as a opposed to a full blade?

Not really. I'm sure it's there, but it's quite small.

I just shaved the same way I do with a full DE blade, and it worked just the same.

Now in a Fatboy, yes there was a big difference in blade angle, at both 1 and 9 adjustment settings. The difference was noticeable enough that I didn't feel comfortable trying to shave with it.

As for the danger, I think T Rick nailed it. I'm most worried about having to cut blades in half and position the 1/2 blades when changing them. It's sorta tricky. As near as I can tell, once a 1/2 blade is loaded into the SS, it's about as safe to use as a full blade. (That's not the case in all razors though!) But there's no harm in assuming I'm wrong there, it's been known to happen .

If the silo doors get loose, the 1/2 blade has a dangerous amount of play … but so does a full blade. The "bar" in the middle of the razor, and the hinges on the doors keep the 1/2 blade from sliding out, until the doors are opened pretty far.

I can't see any reason not to be more careful though. It's quite possible that something about having only 1/2 a blade makes silo doors more prone to open. Everything stayed tight for me, but yeah, I've only tried once so far.

[strat1117]

This sounds potentially dangerous to me. Not worth the risk.

[stuff495]

The linked article mentions nothing about this type of "cost savings" and only discusses cartridge razors. And the findings for the cartridge razors was one study, undertaken by an individual that hasn't been verified.

Yep. I'm a sucker for studies though, so it'll be interesting to verify or disprove it. (If ever get get un-sidetracked trying to decide on a favorite razor and blade )

What makes me suspect that oxidation is the real "dullard" is that DE blades don't last 2x as long as single-edge cartridge blades.

The fact that the post doesn't contain any instructions on safely shaving with 1/2 of a blade is also worrisome.

How about "don't try it unless the blade is secure, and the same angle as it normally is."?

Trying to shave with half of a DE blade is potentially more dangerous, a waste of time, and pointless.

Yep . No really, I'm sure you're right. See, I don't know of any accounts of people doing this back in the days of carbon-steel blades. I'd think rust was a much bigger problem then. So if it wasn't worth it then, I can't imagine it being worth it now.

[82R100]

What makes me suspect that oxidation is the real "dullard" is that DE blades don't last 2x as long as single-edge cartridge blades.

Oh, I don't buy that reasoning. For one thing, the SE blades are more than twice as thick as the DE's. [Edit: Oops, I read your statement as comparing to SE blades instead of cartridge blades. I'ts still probably true though.]

The other problem with your approach is that you're going to be spending twice as long rinsing your razor while you shave, since you don't have the option of twirling the head around and using both edges between rinses.

I would have thought that the most logical response to your cited study would be to dry your DE blades. This is much easier to do if you don't cut them in half, as they are much easier to remove and reinstall in their uncut condition.

- Chris

[T Rick]

Not really. I'm sure it's there, but it's quite small.

I just shaved the same way I do with a full DE blade, and it worked just the same.

Now in a Fatboy, yes there was a big difference in blade angle, at both 1 and 9 adjustment settings. The difference was noticeable enough that I didn't feel comfortable trying to shave with it.

As for the danger, I think T Rick nailed it. I'm most worried about having to cut blades in half and position the 1/2 blades when changing them. It's sorta tricky. As near as I can tell, once a 1/2 blade is loaded into the SS, it's about as safe to use as a full blade. (That's not the case in all razors though!) But there's no harm in assuming I'm wrong there, it's been known to happen .

If the silo doors get loose, the 1/2 blade has a dangerous amount of play … but so does a full blade. The "bar" in the middle of the razor, and the hinges on the doors keep the 1/2 blade from sliding out, until the doors are opened pretty far.

I can't see any reason not to be more careful though. It's quite possible that something about having only 1/2 a blade makes silo doors more prone to open. Everything stayed tight for me, but yeah, I've only tried once so far.

Actually though, I was just pointing out an additional danger, not listing this as the chief danger. I completely agree with the other posts above and their points also.

This sounds potentially dangerous to me. Not worth the risk.

Precisely.

What makes me suspect that oxidation is the real "dullard" is that DE blades don't last 2x as long as single-edge cartridge blades.

But you're comparing apples to oranges. First, the cartridge generally has multiple blades, so they should last longer. Next, they are the most modern technology in blade production, and while DE's have certainly benefitted from advances in the last 80 years, they are definitely NOT at the forefront of blade technology.

Lastly, even cheap cartridges cost 35¢ (Personna Twin 2 at Walmart for example). Top end Gillette carts can cost several dollars each. DE Blades OTOH, can be bought in bulk of 100 (for about the same price as 6 or 8 Mach 3 carts.) and can cost as little as 12¢ delivered.

Overall, it simply is not worth the fuss, inconvenience or potential danger (of multiple types) to do what you are proposing. At it's best, it's simply a waste of time.


ETA: If you remove, rinse and blot dry your DE blade each day (handling risk yes, but less so than dealing with splitting the blade), you will minimize if not eliminate the oxidation. There ya go, no need to split the blade!

[D.Irving79]

haha. i did that when i first started shaving. i thought i was being super cost effective.

[cooncatbob]

Seems to me you'd have to rinse the razor twice as often.
I shave roll the razor to the other side of the head, shave rinse repeat.
With only 1 edge I'd have to shave, rinse, shave rinse.
Kinda defeats the purpose of having a double edge razor, might as well use a injector or a Gem our worse a cartridge.

[D.Irving79]

Seems to me you'd have to rinse the razor twice as often.
I shave roll the razor to the other side of the head, shave rinse repeat.
With only 1 edge I'd have to shave, rinse, shave rinse.
Kinda defeats the purpose of having a double edge razor, might as well use a injector or a Gem our worse a cartridge.

hes right. just use a gem